STRAIGHT WINGS VS. SWEPT WINGS

F-84 Thunderjets & MiG-15s over Korea

- WARREN E. THOMPSON

In the fall of 1950, the increasing numbers of MiG-15s based just north of the Yalu River caused great concern with the Far East Air Force (FEAF), and when these swept-wing fighters started coming south of the river in November 1950, air superiority and safety of United Nations (UN) ground troops were threatened. The call was made to bring the new F-86 Sabres over to Korea to counter the Soviet-built MiGs. The 4th Fighter Wing was the first to respond, but that is not the end of the story. At the same time, there was also a need to bring in a newer fighter bomber that could easily range up to the Yalu and take care of itself in a fight. The F-80Cs were doing a good job of this, but if the MiGs came south of the river in large numbers, the current U.S. Air Force bombers, the F-51 Mustang and the F-80 Shooting Star, could be in for a much tougher job of bombing targets and getting back home unscathed. The Mustangs were also getting old, and heavy maintenance was required to keep their in-service rate up.

The Strategic Air Command (SAC) had a highly trained F-84 wing at Bergstrom AFB in Texas, and it included some of the most combat-experienced fighter pilots from World War II. This was the 27th Fighter Escort Wing and, up until this time, their main task was to fly escort for SAC bombers if WW III started. The unit had already transitioned from the F-82E Twin Mustang to the F-84E and was able to get proficient in the new jet before the orders sent the wing to Japan. General Hoyt Vandenberg approved the request to send one wing of F-86s and one wing of F-84s to Korea.

MiG Alley heats up